They [the wine producers] are the trailblazers who are setting an important precedent for the industry in its efforts to fast-track the implementation of fair labour practices on wine farms and in cellars. - Su Birch, Wines of South Africa (WOSA) CEO.

There’s an important label that one should look out for when next purchasing a bottle of South African wine. It's a new seal that guarantees fair labour practices in wine production, endorsed by the Wine & Agricultural Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA).

The seal is granted to individual wines (as opposed to the wineries themselves) and, recently, 26 wines were given the green light to bear the new seal, including wines from Fairview, Distell, Tukulu, Durbanville Hills, Robertson Winery and Spier.

WIETA's new seal isn't just another example of clever marketing to sell more wines. To be entitled to carry the ethical seal, wineries voluntarily enter into an annually renewable, legally binding agreement with WIETA.

Conditions for compliance include total traceability of all suppliers (60% of whom must also be accredited, with the remaining 40% preparing for accreditation) and a set of strictly monitored minimum conditions including the prohibition of child labour, the right to a healthy and safe working environment, the right to reasonable working conditions, a living wage, and protection from unfair discrimination.

The following wines will feature the new WIETA ethical seal on their labels:

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) CEO, Su Birch, says the winemakers who have been awarded the seal deserve to be acknowledged: 'They are the trailblazers who are setting an important precedent for the industry in its efforts to fast-track the implementation of fair labour practices on wine farms and in cellars.'

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